EmpowerFresh, an AI-driven ordering and inventory management platform built for independent and regional grocers’ perimeter departments, has announced a strategic partnership with Loyalty Lane, a provider of loyalty, rewards and customer engagement solutions for independent grocers.
Loyalty Lane will make EmpowerFresh available to its network of independent retail customers.
The partnership is designed to close the technology gap independents face against national chains by connecting two capabilities that matter most to an operator: knowing and rewarding shoppers, and having the right product on the shelf – especially in fresh departments – when those shoppers walk in.
Ordering recommendations
EmpowerFresh uses each store’s own sales and purchase history, daily data feeds and in-store inventory counts to generate ordering recommendations in produce, meat, deli and center store. The platform is tablet-first for department managers on the sales floor, with a browser-based view for owners and executives, and is designed to work within the IT environments independent grocers already have. The Kansas City, Missouri-based company works with wholesale partners including AWG and AFI.
“We founded EmpowerFresh because independent grocers deserve tools built for the way they actually operate,” said Robert Austin, president and CEO of EmpowerFresh, who spent half his career on the fresh retail side of the industry and half delivering technology to small and midsize businesses. “Through this partnership, more independent grocers can bring that same intelligence to their ordering and inventory. The result is fresher shelves, less waste and one more reason for loyal shoppers to keep coming back.”
A natural fit
“What excites me about EmpowerFresh is how naturally their technology fits with what we do at Loyalty Lane,” said Bill Gray, president of Loyalty Lane. “Helping retailers order smarter, keep fresh products moving, and reduce waste is a big win on its own. But when you combine that with our ability to reward shoppers and deliver personalized offers, you have an opportunity to turn those savings into stronger loyalty programs, more shopping trips, bigger baskets and higher margins.”
Marietta, Georgia-based Loyalty Lane has served independent grocery and convenience retailers for more than 20 years with point-of-sale data collection, targeted promotions, websites and community rewards programs.
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